al shabaab

Description

An unprecedented coalition of Somali security forces and troops with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have launched an operation(May 21) to neutralise lingering insurgent elements blamed for a recent spate of violence in the capital Mogadishu. Long before dawn, the joint units had surrounded several parts of the seaside city so that Somali police and intelligence officers could screen residents and intentionally flush out members of the Al Qaeda linked extremist group al Shabaab. Under pressure from the Somali National Security Forces and AMISOM, the militants fled Mogadishu en masse in 2011, but a few pockets remained to launch sporadic ambushes and suicide attacks. SOUNDBITE (English) Col. Deus Sande, AMISOM: "The tactics of the terrorist changes every other day and as he changes the tactics you also have to think and change the concept." AMISOM and its international partners are focusing their efforts and considerable resources on training, equipping and molding the Somali police and army into effective, professional organisations. The increased security, they could provide, would allow for greater progress in stabilising or reconstructing Somalia's civil, political and humanitarian sectors. Col. Sande added: "by operating together, it also brings a situation whereby the Somali National Forces will be able to begin building confidence, you know what has been happening before, today we've begun building their confidence gradually, and as time goes by they will be able to stand by themselves." Security officials say the "cordon & search" operation could last for several days and have called on Mogadishu's residents to be patient and cooperative so that their city can be made safer.